EXPERTS are investigating how five seals died in Co Donegal, amid fears they were deliberately killed.
Four of the defenceless animals were found dead near Rosbeg and a fifth near Narin.
The Irish Seal Sanctuary is also investigating the deaths of several seals in Co Waterford, it confirmed last night.
A spokesman said: “The National Parks and Wildlife Services have been informed of the concerns around the deaths of the animals.
“It is appealing to the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to the Gardai or any dead seals to the Irish Seal Sanctuary and the National Parks and Wildlife Services.”
Seals are a protected species around Ireland’s shores.
Conservationists say there is no need to kill them.
The Co Wexford based organisation says it has studied all government reports and data since 1960 and there is no scientific support for culls.
“The problem and challenge to fisheries scientists, politicians and the fishing community is to face up to the internationally acknowledged problem of over-fishing,” said a spokesman.
“The take over of the fishing industry by large business corporations and the displacement and systematic depopulation of previously sustainable fishing communities is the issue.
“This policy is E.U. driven, assisted by our own National and local politicians, and divisions within the ranks of the fishing community itself, where larger more unscrupulous operators are fishing smaller operators out of business.”
The ISS also claimed that while quotas were set at €700M, Irish fisheries take more than twice that from the waters off the Irish coasts.
One of those leading the debate for a possible cull earlier this year was Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh.
He claimed a review of legislation protecting seals was required in addition to an investigation into possible breeding controls.
“If we have humane annual deer culls on this island, we should open a debate on having a humane seal cull,” he said in an interview in February.
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